The treatment after abortion varies considerably: in many cases it will be merely necessary for the patient to remain in bed for a few days afterwards; but where she has been much reduced, a mild course of tonics will be necessary, in order to prevent that disposition to leucorrhoea and menstrual derangement which is so common a result: this, where it is possible, should be combined with removal into the country, or to the sea-side, or, what is still better to a watering place, where there are mineral springs of chalybeate character. For the treatment of anæmia we must refer our readers to the chapter on HÆMORRHAGE. PART III. EUTOCIA, OR NATURAL PARTURITION. CHAPTER I. STAGES OF LABOUR. _Preparatory stage.--Precursory symptoms.--First contractions.--Action of the pains.--Auscultation during the pains.--Effect of the pains upon the pulse.--Symptoms to be observed during and between the pains.--Character of a true pain.--Formation of the bag of liquor amnii.--Rigour at the end of the first stage.--Show.--Duration of the first stage.--Description of the second stage.--Straining pains.-- Dilatation of the perineum.--Expulsion of the child.--Third stage.-- Expulsion of the placenta.--Twins._ Parturition may be divided into two great orders, _Eutocia_ and _Dystocia_, the one signifying natural labour which follows a favourable course both for the mother and her child; the other signifying faulty or irregular labour, the course of which is unfavourable. We may define eutocia to be the safe expulsion of the mature foetus and its secundines by the natural powers destined for that purpose. No function exhibits such infinite varieties, within the limits of health and safety to the mother and her offspring, as that of parturition; no two labours, even in the same individual are exactly alike; still, however, the great objects of the process will be the same, viz. 1st. the preparation of the passages and the foetus for its expulsion; 2dly, the expulsion of the foetus; and 3dly, the expulsion of the placenta and membranes. That we may form a clearer and more comprehensive view of this process, labour has usually been divided into stages or periods, marked by the changes just now alluded to: hence it is generally said to consist of three stages; the first, or preparatory stage, commencing with the first perceptible contractions of the uterus, and terminating in the full dilatation of the os uteri; the second, or stage of expulsion, terminating with the birth of the child; and the third, consisting of the expulsion of the placenta.